Taylor, Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools: Advize Career Interview

A career in education offers diverse and rewarding opportunities, as evidenced by Taylor's journey. A sociology major and restaurant jobs unexpectedly led to Teach for America, igniting a passion for curriculum and assessment.

This passion propelled a career path through charter schools and districts, culminating in the Chief Academic Officer role at Scholarship Prep Schools.

The position involves overseeing academic programs across multiple sites, directly supporting teachers and site leadership, and developing innovative instructional strategies.

A day in the role combines classroom interaction with high-level decision-making, leveraging data to advocate for students, teachers, and site leaders.

Essential skills include excellent communication, problem-solving, and a solutions-oriented approach.

The most significant challenge is prioritizing constantly emerging needs, while the greatest reward is supporting underserved communities through wraparound services.

The education industry thrives on humble, driven, and solutions-oriented individuals committed to continuous improvement. A key lesson learned is the importance of not taking things personally.

Finally, abundant entry-level opportunities currently exist, with Scholarship Prep offering significant support for aspiring teachers.

Exploring diverse fields during undergraduate studies is encouraged to help shape a global worldview and identify impactful career paths.

Advizer Information

Name

Job Title

Company

Undergrad

Grad Programs

Majors

Industries

Job Functions

Traits

Taylor Ellis

Chief Academic Officer

Scholarship Prep Schools

UC Santa Barbara 2009

CSU Long Beach MA in Curriculum and Instruction, Administrative Services Credential

Anthropology, Sociology

Education

Strategic Management and Executive

Honors Student, Took Out Loans, Worked 20+ Hours in School

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Career Path Of A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools

Taylor's career path, beginning with a sociology major and "regular restaurant jobs," unexpectedly led to Teach for America, a pivotal experience that ignited a passion for curriculum and assessment. Subsequent roles in charter schools and districts, coupled with a master's degree, culminated in Taylor's current position as Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep, a journey marked by deliberate choices and a clear focus on "where my passion really lies."

Career Path Of A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools

Main Responsibilities Of A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools

Taylor's main responsibility as Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools is overseeing the entire academic program, a role that involves "supporting teachers directly as well as site leadership," curriculum development and purchasing, and ensuring consistency across multiple school sites through coaching and change management to best support student learning. This entails developing "the scholarship prep way" and implementing it across three counties while ensuring a strong instructional program.

Main Responsibilities Of A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools

A Day in the Life of a Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools

A Chief Academic Officer's day involves significant on-site presence, including "modeling lessons for teachers," providing coaching, and partnering with site leadership to address challenges. The role also encompasses substantial back-end work focused on "problem-solving," curriculum management, assessment oversight, and system-wide monitoring of attendance, discipline, and academic data.

A Day in the Life of a Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools

Most Important Skills for a Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools

Taylor, Scholarship Prep Schools' Chief Academic Officer, emphasizes that excellent communication, active listening, and a solutions-oriented approach are crucial for success in their demanding role. The ability to manage time effectively, understand systemic issues ("recognizing Trends and addressing those trends"), and maintain a strong sense of purpose ("know and be grounded in your why") are also highlighted as essential for navigating the long hours and challenges of this career.

Most Important Skills for a Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools

Favorite Parts of Being a Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools

Taylor enjoys the "best of all worlds" in their current role as Chief Academic Officer, combining direct classroom interaction and teacher coaching with high-level organizational decision-making; this allows Taylor to leverage "all of that information" to advocate for students, teachers, and site leaders at the highest levels.

Favorite Parts of Being a Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools

Taylor's biggest challenge as Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools is not a singular issue, but rather the constant emergence of new priorities; the post-pandemic period, for example, presented immediate challenges related to online learning, staffing, and amplified mental health support needs, requiring the ability to "identify what and prioritize what those biggest challenges are" and effectively collaborate for solutions.

Biggest Challenges Faced By A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools

Favorite Parts of Working in K-12 Education as a Chief Academic Officer

Taylor's passion for working with underserved communities fuels their enjoyment of the education industry; the opportunity to provide "wraparound services," including "food, housing support, emotional support," and witnessing students' academic growth as a result, is what drives them.

Favorite Parts of Working in K-12 Education as a Chief Academic Officer

What Type Of Person Thrives In Education, According To A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools

Taylor, Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools, identifies individuals who "are humble and driven and solutions oriented" as thriving in education; this success stems from a commitment to continuous improvement, collaboration, and self-reflection, acknowledging that "everybody has room to grow" and prioritizing the needs of students and teachers.

What Type Of Person Thrives In Education, According To A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools

What a Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep wishes they had known before entering the education industry

Taylor, a Chief Academic Officer, advises that unlike common perception, higher-level roles in education, and likely other industries, are overwhelmingly focused on "people management," not the specialized tasks many initially envision; therefore, a willingness to embrace "other duties as assigned," and operate outside one's defined lane is crucial for success in such positions.

What a Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep wishes they had known before entering the education industry

Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Teachers at Scholarship Prep Schools

Taylor, Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools, highlights the current abundance of entry-level opportunities in education, stating "it's a great time to get into that," due to staffing shortages and increased funding. Scholarship Prep offers support for aspiring teachers, including tuition assistance for bachelor's degrees and teacher credential programs, enabling employees to "work while getting your teaching credential".

Entry-level Positions for Aspiring Teachers at Scholarship Prep Schools

Significant Career Lesson From A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools

Taylor, Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools, shared that a crucial lesson learned throughout their career is "to not take things personally," a skill vital in education where setbacks are frequent and often unrelated to individual performance; this approach allows for better relationship-building and navigating challenges effectively.

Significant Career Lesson From A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools

College Experiences That Helped A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools Succeed

Taylor, Chief Academic Officer at Scholarship Prep Schools, recommends exploring diverse fields during undergraduate studies to broaden one's worldview and identify impactful career paths; the professional advises against "pigeonholing" oneself, stating that this approach "really helped shape their beliefs globally, as well as within their career."

College Experiences That Helped A Chief Academic Officer At Scholarship Prep Schools Succeed

Advizer Personal Links

https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-ellis-edu/